A popcorn flick, and a good one.

Rating: 8/10 (8 August 2009)

Good: Powerful action, raises moral and philosophical questions usually not seen with Michael Bay, cool set.
Bad: All of the questions and themes have been done before and done better in Blade Runner and The Matrix. Why do there have to be soo many shameless product plugs.
Michael bay is famous for making sci-fi movies focused on action, and horror movies based on gore. In some ways this is good, it centers around the focal points of each genre, but this approach tends to be hit or miss.
The Island is a hit, and it surpasses the mindless action flick in the first half. Before watching this film, I could not foresee that Michael Bay would make (not-too-subtle) allusions to Brave New World, and The Republic. This elevated the film somewhat over the genre flick. However, I found myself finding the value of life aspect to be borrowing from Blade Runner, and the reality-versus-illusion aspect to be borrowed from The Matrix. The film even pays an obvious homage to the subway station scene in the Matrix in the climax "MY NAME IS LINCOLN!" But ultimately all this is a means to an end and that end is some very awesome sights and sounds. The setting goes above and beyond the call of duty here. I actually found myself willing to believe that this could really be the future. There was one problem, and that was the excessive product plugs, which became distracting. I though at first I could ignore them, but I soon found myself counting them. I ended with around 13 or 14.
Bottom Line: For people looking to have a good time, and may be satisfactorily thoughtful for those who hate all of Michael Bay's other films. Watch the film with a good sound system, and you'll be in for a ride.